Here are some of the old snapshots I picked up at Covent Garden market on Monday. Some of you mentioned that you didn't know Covent Garden had an antiques market -- it's only on Mondays, in the Jubilee Market section. There's lots of knickknacks, china, glassware, stamps and coins, books, old jewelry, stuff like that -- and invariably someone will have a box of old photos.
I liked the strong light and graphic patterns in the photo above. It was only after I scanned it that I realized there's a kid climbing the trellis! (Most of these photos are very small in real life, as a lot of old snapshots used to be, so it's not easy to see details.)
A very 1930s-looking tennis game. Remember Monty Python's skit "Salad Days"?
Again, this picture is tiny in real life -- no bigger than a postage stamp. Thank goodness we can wear more comfortable clothes nowadays. That collar seems awfully stiff.
This is the only one of these photos to have a note on the back: "Eileen with Francis, Lucy and Martin Cassar, Villa Shangrila, Ta' Xbiex, Malta. April 1965."
More kids, on a distinctive duck-shaped bench. Speaking of which, the kid in the back looks like he's goosing that girl. I can't tell what the older girl is holding in her hand. I tried reverse image-searching this photo to see if the duck bench turned up a location, but no luck.
And finally, a typical '60s-looking beach scene. Someone's little brother is creeping into the frame from the left. Are we still in Malta, or back in England? Or somewhere else? Who knows.
I have a few more, and as usual, they'll all go on Flickr.
That's a great set of photos, with lots of stories to imagine! The last one is my favourite, but I also love the smile of the elderly lady (she's probably my age) in the first picture, and the stylish look of the three tennis players (more 20s than 30s, is my guess).
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had anyone contact you because they found themselves or a family member on one of the pictures you published?
No one's ever contacted me. Usually there's not enough information on the photo for anyone to be identifiable. Today, we have one photo with a first and last name, which is unusual. We'll see if I hear from him!
DeleteThere's something wonderfully mysterious and nostalgic about old snapshots. Each one a tiny, timeless puzzle that hints at forgotten stories and invites us to imagine the lives behind the images
ReplyDeleteFine looking trellis in the first photo. That "salad days" clip is bit gory, all that blood geysering all over.
ReplyDeleteThat's what makes it so funny! It's so unexpected.
DeleteThese are fascinating photos; I love looking back at the past.
ReplyDeleteSimple pleasures, back in those old black & white days.
ReplyDeleteFrom the first photo, photobombing has been around for a long time.
ReplyDelete